Daniel – Age 1.5 – Belize

At only three weeks old, Daniel’s father noticed his son was turning blue. He knew something wasn’t right and his baby needed to be checked by a doctor. Daniel was diagnosed with ventricular septal defect (VSD), a hole between the two lower chambers of his tiny heart. By word of mouth, Daniel’s father heard about HeartGift and reached out, and Daniel was accepted. Coming from a Mennonite community, Daniel’s family was not sure what to expect from a first-time airplane ride to traveling to a new country where most people do not speak German, but they arrived safe and sound in Louisiana.

Initially, Daniel’s surgery was delayed after he contracted several viruses and needed time to heal. Ultimately, his surgery was successful thanks to the team at Children’s Hospital New Orleans and Daniel thrived. Immediately after surgery, he started gaining weight and growing big and strong. His dad says his favorite part about the whole experience was getting the opportunity to spend so much time with his son and said, “Everything little thing is going to be alright.”